16-Year-Old Boy Undergoes Complex 6-Hour Surgery to Remove Massive Liver Tumour

Visakhapatnam: Sixteen is an age to play, laugh, and study with youthful energy. However, for this teenage boy, the last month was full of distress. He was suffering from severe abdominal pain and recurrent fever, which left him weak and exhausted. Initially, when he was taken to other hospitals, doctors suspected a liver infection and prescribed medication.

But as there was no improvement, he was brought to KIMS Seethammadhara Hospital, Visakhapatnam. After a series of tests, the doctors confirmed that it was cancer. A rare and highly complex surgery was performed to remove the tumour by Dr. Muralidhar Nambada, Senior GI and Liver Surgeon, who shared the details of the case.

“When the boy came to us, his stomach and lower limbs were visibly swollen. This suggested a major issue with the liver. Upon conducting tests, we found that he was suffering from a rare form of liver cancer, known medically as Malignant Hepatic Angiomyelolipoma. The tumour had occupied almost half of the right side of the liver. Further investigations, including a CT Scan and an MRI, revealed the exact size, location, and extent of the tumour.

We decided to proceed with immediate surgery. The operation lasted nearly six and a half hours. The tumour weighed 4.5 kilograms and was almost the size of a football. It was a massive tumour, and removing it safely without complications was highly challenging. We had to ensure there was no bleeding from the tumour, and at the same time, we had to make sure not even a trace of the tumour remained in the liver. It was equally important to preserve the healthy portion of the liver, as it is a vital organ for survival.

Since the patient is only 16 years old, his liver can regenerate. Hence, protecting the remaining healthy liver was crucial. Considering the size and the tricky location of the tumour, the surgery required meticulous planning and precise execution,” explained Dr. Muralidhar and Dr Ravi Chandra Reddy, the Surgical team.

Following the surgery, the boy recovered rapidly and was discharged on the fifth day. He has also completed six cycles of chemotherapy and is now able to carry on with his daily routine.

The boy’s parents expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the doctors, staff, and management of KIMS Seethammadhara Hospital for performing such a complex surgery successfully and saving their son’s life.